As you explore the city, the majority of people don't want anything to do with you. Over time, you learn that Ustalavians are rather distrustful of outsiders. To make things worse, there's going to be a full moon tonight. "Problems? Yeah, we got things needin' to be done, but they can wait 'til the morn. Don't want to get et by the Mauler, after all."
Every full moon, a random citizen dissappears - only to be found mauled to death by some kind of clawed beast. Peasants, merchants, nobles, men, women, nobody is safe. Fourteen people have died thus far, and the local shops have run almost completely out of silver weapons and wolfsbane. The city guard is on high alert, and you notice a couple of them surreptitiously following you as you wander around the city. Among the common folk, they seem incredibly tense, and it wouldn't take much to spark a citywide panic.
"Confusing love of the sun for love of the moon..." Iris sighed, shaking her head sadly. See, this was why mortals needed gods - they had a really hard time solving problems on their own. What you did was create a climate where people were encouraged to come forward with problems, and then sensible priests could cast spells like Abeyance to keep them under control until the curse could be broken more permanently. Also, fourteen people? This had been happening for over a year if it was just one citizen each time, and they still hadn't solved it? Or gotten decent outside help? Sigh. Mortals. With that, she clapped her hands together and turned to face the guards she'd seen following her. "Excuse me." she said, a wide smile on her face. "Could we talk for a few minutes?"
The guards seem a bit startled at your approach and look at you suspiciously. "Can we help you?"
"You're looking awfully tense, gentlemen." she said, giving them one of her nicer smiles. "I can understand why you're nervous - you have families, right? I've been hearing dreadful rumors about people disappearing, and the idea that you could lose your wives or your children tonight... well, even a strong man could be forgiven for a little fear." Said the goddess who did a fair bit of that forgiving. "However, this has been going on for a long time, and I'm probably the one you can be most certain isn't the Mauler, since I only arrived in town today - and quite a few people can attest to this fact. I have some small degree of magical power, and if the beast plaguing you is what I think it is, then that should suffice. What we're going to do is try and capture the poor thing, then deliver them to an area where their curse can be properly controlled. That's better than letting your families continue to be put at risk, right?"
"Well, come to think of it, you did come from the Pathfinder Lodge, so I guess you're not our killer. Still, we suggest you stay indoors tonight for your own safety." Satisfied for the moment, the guards resume their regular duties.
Within moments of their leaving, a young man with a limp furtively attempts to get your attention. "Can we talk in private, miss?"
"What is it?" Iris inquired gently, using her sacred staff as a walking stick as she approached the boy who wanted to talk to her. Several ideas were already running through her mind, but despite her generally impatient nature, she was doing her best to avoid jumping to conclusions. Very few people had shown a willingness to talk to her, so anyone who did so either had a good reason.
Either that or they were just going to say something that would make her smack them upside the head, but hey! Couldn't hurt to make friends with the locals, right?
The man motions you into a nearby alley and whispers. "I overheard you say that you're planning on tracking down the Mauler? If so, there's something you should know."
He looks around furtively and continues. "I'm pretty sure I know who the Mauler is. There's this Pathfinder named Vonran Vilk, you see. Real famous type; always off exploring ruins and such. About six months ago, he retires and comes home to write his memoirs or something. Anyway, the Mauler shows up pretty soon thereafter. Plus, the victims? Each one is related to Vilk in various ways. You catch my drift?"
"I heard that a random citizen vanishes each full moon, yes... but that there have been fourteen of them. The people before seemed to be implying that there was only one person vanishing each month - if Vilk only started acting strange six months ago, doesn't that make him unlikely to be the culprit?" Iris inquired, frowning slightly.
"That's what I thought too, but then I started cross-referencing the deaths. The early ones happened when Vilk was off-duty. In fact, there was one month where there was no murder - he was on a mission in the Mwangi Expanse. Plus, the most recent deaths are all connected to Vilk's final mission. That's what clued me in."
"I see." Iris said, tilting her head slightly. "So, what is it you want me to do? If we can catch him alone - especially if he doesn't see us - then I think I can convince him to talk... and I don't think you would have approached me if you didn't have some idea of what role you'd like me to play in investigating him. Do you know where he is at the moment?"
"Well, to be frank, I'm worried that the City Guard will find Vilk and kill him. He may be responsible for these murders, but I don't think it's his fault. I mean, he's been like a father to me. The man's an explorer, not a killer! I've been researching lycanthropy, and I don't think it's affected his mind. Unfortunately, I don't know where he is at present. He's been keeping a low profile since he retired, and many of his records have vanished." The man thinks for a minute. "If anyone could possibly predict his actions tonight, it would be Markov Rutowski. She's a courtesan and his ex-lover."
"Talk to the woman, find the man... seems easy enough. Lead the way. I'd prefer to resolve this before anyone else gets hurt." she said, gesturing for the man to lead her to wherever this... Markov Rotowski... lived. What people did romantically had never really been part of her portfolio, and she'd never cared much aside from a note in her teachings that people should be willing to move on from bad relationships and seek out newer, better ones if they thought that was the right thing to do. All right, probably best to start by simply talking to the lady - if she liked Vilk, it would be best to frame it as protecting him. If not, Iris would improvise.
The man leads you to his carriage and drives you to Rutowski's townhouse. It's approximately a 20min drive. The house is marred by a scraggly hedgerow and a thousand storm's worth of water stains but is otherwise quite beautiful. Well-worn marble steps lead to oaken double doors and an ornate yellow bell pull.
Your guide pauses. "Rutowski's one of the elite, and she takes that very seriously. If she sees me, there's no way we'll get an audience with her - I'm not one of the upper-class. Be polite, don't mention the Pathfinders, and good luck. I'll wait here with the carriage."
Iris nodded, waiting until the man was out of sight before ringing the bell three times. Ah, upper-class mortals... interesting people, though they'd rarely been among her worshipers. Those who felt like they already owned the world rarely saw the need for renewal, change, and growth. Still, the woman was richer than she'd expected... maybe there was more going on here than she'd yet been able to figure out.
A pompous-looking Elf in servant's clothes opens the door. Looking you up and down, he asks, "Do you have an appointment?"
Appointments were things mortals needed. Or lawful deities - she'd once known this fellow who'd maintained a strict policy of only being contacted by divination during certain hours, and- well, that wasn't important. "Unfortunately, no, but I was hoping that I could speak to the lady of the house on a matter of some importance." Iris said, smiling at the servant. If nothing else, pure charm ought to help win him over.
The butler smiles at the pretty lady. "You're in luck, milady. My mistress is very busy, but you've come during her lunch. Come right in."
He leads you to the dining room where a beautiful woman of mixed Taldan and Ustalavic descent sits at a mahogany table. She gently sets down her fork as you enter. "You clearly not a local, nor are you expected. I know only Pathfinders to be so bold, and your fearless little Society has already taken enough from me. Leave, or I will call the guards."
"Please accept my apologies for the intrusion, ma'am." Iris said, inclining her head and quite literally putting on her most charming manner.
Overwhelming with splendor was the way of the dawn - and thus, an innate part of her nature. It was almost harder to not try and be more magnificent than anyone else in a room. "However, you are misinformed about one thing - I am not a member of the Pathfinders. I'm actually conducting an independent investigation of a problem this town seems to be having, and some of my sources thought you might be able to help me find someone I need to talk to. If you wouldn't mind giving me a few minutes of my time, you'll be able to help the town and I'll be on my way... and the town won't soon forget your help."
Rutowski sighs and gestures for you to sit. "Forgive me. It was rude for me to presume. What can I do for you?"
Iris calmly took a seat and gazed at the woman, clearly giving off the impression that she'd accepted the apology and would think no more of it. Magnanimity was also part of her nature, as the gods of good generally didn't hold past behavior against someone once they'd both agreed to move on. "To keep it brief, my lady, I'm looking for a gentleman named Vonran Vilk. I should note-" she added, speaking quickly to get to the point before the woman could interrupt, "-that I have not met him in the past, and I'm only interested in him to the extent that it affects my investigation."
She wasn't entirely sure of their current relationship, but her comment held true on several levels. For one, Iris wasn't ignorant of the way people might be interested in her body - and wanted to make it clear that she had no intention of trying to steal anyone's man. At the same time, whether someone liked or disliked someone else, they usually had less of a problem giving directions if the one asking for information cared less on a personal level and more on a professional one. She was there to neither help nor harm, so there hopefully wouldn't be too many objections... especially now that she'd gotten the woman in a better mood.
Rutowski gets a guarded look when you say who you're looking for. "Why are you looking for him?"
Ah, so she probably liked him. Iris tilted her head slightly as she considered that information. "I was told that he might be at least partially a victim of recent events, and I don't like seeing innocent people blamed or hurt. If the information bears true, I'll give him what help I can in resolving the problem." she explained. "If it turns out he's not involved, then I'll just move on."
Rutowski gets a panicked look. "Oh, gods! You know, don't you? What are you going to do?"
Iris simply blinked. "Find a cleric who isn't completely terrible and help get any problems under control?" she suggested. "I'm actually kind of busy - I have no reason to go out of my way to hurt people who don't need to be hurt, and those who have done nothing wrong - or been made victims of circumstance - have nothing to fear from me." Like most deities of good, she had no problem with smiting the guilty - but harming innocents and victims was another matter entirely, and best avoided as much as possible.
She looks incredibly relieved. "Oh, thank the gods! This has gone on long enough. How can I help?"
"Indeed." Iris said in response to the woman's first comment. "Tell me everything you can about his... problem. When it started, what the symptoms are, what he's done that anyone else might voice an object to, and where I can find him now. It's very important that you be honest with me - I won't be able to help him nearly as well if my information is incomplete. It doesn't matter if you think the information is irrelevant or could hurt him if I knew it - tell me everything you know about what's going on and I'll do what I can to be sure he gets through this."
Rutowski nods. "I don't know exactly how it happened, but I'd guess he contracted his ... illness ... during his final mission. I don't know much about it. He and several others went to loot some old tomb. He returned alone. The Pathfinders exiled him afterwards, and he disappeared for a long time. It killed me to lose him, but my entire life is in this city - my experience, my clients, all my family's property. I've never known a man like Vilk before or since, but my work and my life were more important then."
She falls silent for a moment, regret in her eyes. She blinks hard a few times before continuing. "Where to find him? Most of the people he bears a grudge against are dead or have moved away. Of those left, Judge Cevianna Pradowca is the worst. She bore a grudge against Vilk for refusing to wed her and so turned her courtroom into a weapon against him. She's the one who handed down his banishment. I wager he'll hunt her next."
Rutowski's voice grows quiet and slightly pleading. "He was here, you know. Not five days ago he stood where you are now, ranting and raving about Judge Pradowca and her lofty position. He was ... so different from the Vonran I loved. So cold - hate just rolling off of him. Help him. Please."
Iris nodded as she considered Rutowski's words. "And why did he have a grudge against them?" she asked, probing for more information about what was really going on here. "I find it hard to believe that one man could amass so many enemies he wanted to kill - and who apparently hated him in return - without at least some source of conflict. Even hatreds magnified by magic or disease tend to have a kernel of truth at their core." Besides which, refusing weddings? That would never have been allowed in her church - she'd encouraged people to question themselves to be sure that marriage was the right thing for them, but if they wanted to form a new relationship, then her emphasis on renewal and seizing new opportunities basically demanded that her priests support the people's efforts.
"As I said, Judge Pradowca is responsible for Vonran's banishment. Other victims include old adventuring rivals, people who bore witness at his trial, and the information broker who directed him to that ill-fated tomb."
Iris continued to consider the information she'd received, then nodded firmly. "All right, I think I understand where we're at." she said. "Is there any way we can find him before his attack tonight? If possible, I'd like to resolve this before he gets close to any of his targets." If there wasn't, well, she'd just have to make do somehow. Even gods couldn't simply make everything the way they wanted it to - not without a lot of work, anyway. Besides which, the old rules bound her even now. The important thing was to try and stop any new victims from happening... and to save Vonran if at all possible.
Rutowski shakes her head. "Unfortunately, I have no idea where he is."
Once you conclude your meeting with her and step back outside, you realize that the sun is setting. As the full moon begins to rise, an eerie howl echoes across the city.
Iris stepped up her pace, hurrying towards the location she'd been given. Right - probably going to have to do this the hard way, but at least she had plenty of power at the moment. The most important thing was figuring out the correct way of using that power. Killing was easy, after all, but she wanted to subdue her foe instead... well, best to be about it. At least the darkness posed no hindrance.
The black granite edifice of the courthouse looms high above its enclosing wall, though a gate ahead stands ajar. A scream breaks the evening's silence, and upon the wide, stone steps two figures fall prone. A third, hulking form unleashes a furious howl before bounding to the roof and through an open skylight. The courthouse door stands ajar, and a low growling echoes from somewhere within.
Iris darted forward, chanting under her breath as she moved. An aura settled about her body just before she darted through the doors to the building, looking around as she moved to try and find the target before he could reach any further victims. "The dawn always comes." she said softly. A saying of her church - and an important one, with several levels of meaning. She'd have to come check on those men - guards, presumably - a bit later.
The dark courtroom looks like a scene out of a nightmare. A young woman, perhaps twenty, lies on the floor with her throat torn out. Across the room, a well-preserved older woman stands atop her bench, supporting a bleeding arm and swinging a ceremonial blade erratically. Four slobbering mongrels, each as much dog as wolf, circle her makeshift tower.
Light flared into existence around Iris' staff a moment before she shot forward, moving twenty-five feet north to bring her into range of two of the wolfhounds. "Begone, beasts!" she cried as she grabbed her quarterstaff with both hands and whipped it over her head to bring it crashing down on the first wolf's skull.
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Not the most phenomenal hit she'd ever made, but likely enough to get the point across - and distract the beast, thereby reducing the danger the Judge was in.
You strike the wolfhound solidly on the back of its head, and it drops instantly. The remaining three beasts growl menacingly at you and leap forward. One misjudges the distance and falls short, and you're able to deflect the snapping jaws of the other two with your staff. Standing atop her desk, the bleeding woman (presumably Judge Pradowca) cries out, "Please help me!"
New Round
"That's what I'm doing. Please remain calm and do what you can to avoid these animals." Iris said as she shoved away one of the animals and whipped her staff through the air in another two-handed swing, smacking the second beast upside the head.
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"Are you aware of any other attackers that may be in the building?" she added, keeping most of her attention on the fight.
You hit one of the dogs in the ribs, and it gives a pained yelp. Once again, you successfully manage to fend off their assault.
New Round
Iris whirled her weapon around again, but it didn't seem to be quite as accurate as her previous blows had been. Grimly, though, she continued to swing out, glad for the familiar comfort of her weapon .
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"Begone, you curs!" She said firmly, refusing to show any sign of weakness in front of these beasts. Animals had never been a real part of her portfolio - other than an acknowledgement that they might be used in one's new endeavors - but she did recall hearing that it was important to never act like you were afraid. Show them who was in charge and you'd do much better.
You manage to avoid the hounds= snapping jaws as you fell another. They begin to look dispirited, and when you land a solid blow on the alpha, the surviving two beasts flee.
With the excitement of combat over, the judge slumps down into a sitting position. She appears to be in shock, but aside from a nasty bite on her arm, unhurt. "Thank ... you ..."
Behind the judge's bench, you can see a door has been smashed open, and a drainage grating has been completely ripped from its mounting bolts.
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Iris lashed out one more time as the beasts fled, as a reminder that attacking humans had consequences, before she glanced over to the judge. "You're not out of this yet. Do you have a secure room within this building you can wait in? And I heard they were all but out of Wolfsbane earlier - did you acquire any?" she asked, glancing at the opened grating as she began moving past her. Best to try and catch up to her target as quickly as possible.
Your last attack fells the wounded alpha as it flees. The sole surviving hound quickly vanishes into the night. The judge fumbles in a pocket for a minute before producing a single dose of Wolfsbane. "Here ... It's all I have ... I'll lock myself in one of the cells ... It's all I can do ... Don't let him get me ..."
Iris took and pocketed the dose of poison. Bleh. She wasn't fond of such things, but this ought to be a case of a smaller dose of poison being medicine, and that was within what she was willing to do. "Stay there until myself or someone you trust comes to get you - I may have to send someone instead of returning." Iris said, darting through the grate that the enemies appeared to have come from. With a casual speed of forty feet, she was actually faster than most people were even before she started hustling, and wasted no more time as she sought to catch up. The darkness was no problem, but she did keep a wary eye out for trouble. There was no telling what else was down here.
The tight confines of the courthouse sewers eventually open into wider tunnels collecting effluence from the neighborhood buildings. The putrid stink of human refuse mingles with a more natural stink of decomposition. Bubbles and ripples occasionally break the water's surface, filling the chamber with a constant gurgle.
Haah... the things I do for mortals. She was going to need a bath after all of this. Maybe two or three of them. Staying as far from the... material... as she could, Iris continued moving forward, scanning the area for threats and looking for anything that might lead her to her quarry.
Faint splashes up ahead indicate your quarry's path. As you proceed forward, you notice that something appears slightly 'off' about the sewer ahead of you. There's a faint shimmer in the air, as if a large transparent object was blocking your path. You also notice that it's slowly moving closer to you.
Huh, oozes. Almost impossible to miss, but at the same time, surprisingly tough opponents. Unfortunately, she was probably going to have to kill it in order to get by, given the way it was blacking the passage. Sigh. Best to get this over with - especially because she was currently lacking most of the powers and abilities that would allow her to rapidly end all of this.
Celestial runes on her staff lit up as she reactivated her staff's additional power before moving forward, whipping it around and into the beast's side.
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You bash into the ooze and quickly back away to avoid its body.
Now that she was close enough, Iris switched slid her hands farther apart and began whipping her staff through the air in a rapid combination of strikes designed to bash through the cube as quickly as possible.
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